Pyrophoric lighter



Nov. 26, 1957 F. w. BRYANT 2,814,190

PYRoPHoRIc LIGHTER Filed Jan. 11, 1955 I INVENToR. Frede/mk l/I/ @P5/@H2L United States Patent PYROPHORIC LIGHTER Frederick W. Bryant, Florham Park, N. J.

Application January 11, 1955, Serial No. 481,066

1 Claim. (Cl. 67-7.1)

This invention relates to pyrophoric lighters and more particularly to the construction and operation of the wick employed therein, and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein described and claimed.

The cardinal object of the invention resides in the fabrication of a wick in the form of an elongated absorbent body bent intermediate the length thereof to form a loop and presenting a pair of leg members which are housed in the fuel chamber of the lighter, one leg member being positioned in alignment with the abrasive wheel for creating the spark for igniting the wick, the other leg being in direct lalignment with the rst leg member, but removed therefrom, the first leg member thus intercepting charred ilint dust created by the abrasive wheel and maintaining the second leg member free of int dust or carbon deposits.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a wick having a vertically positioned bight portion within the combustion chamber of the lighter, one vertical leg of the bight portion protecting a second leg thereof from flint dust accumulation, thus insuring ignition of the second leg, the ame developed following the contour of the bight portion and thereby forming a iiame which is strong and of substantial area,

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a lighter wherein the wick of the lighter is in the form of a loop thereby eliminating loose or frayed ends within the combustion chamber, thus preventing flooding of the combustion chamber which results in lighter failure.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will be app-arent from the following description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the lighter embodying my construction of wick.

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the lighter.

Figure 3 is a top plan view thereof with the wick removed.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of a liquid gaseous absorbing pad and illustrating the position of the leg members of the wick, the pad, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a closure pad for the igniting unit.

In the present instance I have illustrated and described the wick as embodied in a conventional pocket lighter, but the invention is not so limited, since the principle may be embodied in table or other types of lighter devices.

Reference is first made to Figures 1 and 2, wherein a lighter is shown, consisting of a housing 11 having an open top for reception of the igniting unit 12 which is removably retained within the housing. The housing 11 includes a hinged closure 13, spring-tensioned to hold the closure in open and closed positions, as is customary.

The igniting unit 12 comprises a casing 14 which is open at the bottom to receive an absorbent pad 15, for storage of lighting fluid. The casing 14 is also provided with a tube 16 for supporting a flint 17 against an abrasive wheel 18 which is rotatably mounted upon the wall 19 of the casing. Also mounted upon the wall 19 there is a chimney or combustion chamber 20 which functions in the usual manner.

The wall 19 is provided with a pair of apertures 21 of appropriate diameter, arranged in spaced longitudinal relation, in direct alignment with the periphery of the abrasive wheel 18, said apertures being positioned approximately medially of the combustion chamber 20.

A wick 22 of elongated form and constructed from woven or braided asbestos is employed, the free ends 23 of which are threaded downwardly through respective apertures 21 formed in the top wall of the casing, so as to occupy positions within the casing 14. Thus, a bight portion 24 is formed in the wick, the leg portions 25 and 25' of which are frictionally retained within the apertures 21. Preferably the bight portion is of a height stopping on a line with the upper edge of the combustion chamber or at a level slightly higher than the upper periphery of the abrasive wheel 18.

As best seen in Figure 4, the pad 15 is of U-shaped formation, the side walls 26 readily receiving the leg portions 25 and 25 of the wick therebetween when the pad is inserted through the open bottom of the casing 14. The pad 15 will secure the legs of the wick against displacement and insure thorough saturation of the wick with lighting uid.

A rectangular absorbent base or pad 27 closes the open bottom of the casing 14 and is apertured at one end as at 28 for reception of the lower end of the tube 16. The securing element 0r screw 29 for tensioning the flint 17 will secure the pad in proper position within the casing. The pad 15 may be formed with pockets for storing additional flints 17 When filling the unit 12 with lighting Huid, the unit 12 is removed from the housing 11 and held in an inverted position. The pad 27 may be flexed in the direction of the screw 29 so as to expose the pad 15. Lighting fluid may then be applied to the pad 15 until properly saturated, the walls 26 transferring uid to the leg portions 25 and 25 as well as the bight portion 24.

The free end of the pad 27 is then released and returned to close the open bottom of the casing 14. The pad 27 obviously prevents seepage of fluid into the housing 11 when replaced therein.

From experience, it has been found that lighters embodying a single wick, loose or frayed ends are inherent which tend to provide an over abundance of fluid in the combustion chamber which contributes to lighter failure; also, where a single wick is employed, when the abrasive wheel is actuated, int dust accumulates on the wick and the aperture through which the wick passes, which is another reason for lighter failure. However, by forming the wick as a closed loop or bight portion, the leg 25 of the wick which is in direct line with the abrasive wheel, will intercept flint dust so that the leg 25 will remain clean and free of any deposits and will therefore be properly lighted; and when so ignited, the flame will follow the contour of the bight portion producing a flame which is strong and of substantial area.

While I have shown and described a preferred form of the invention, this is by way of illustration only, and I consider as my own all such modifications in construction as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

In a pyrophoric lighter, a housing having an open top, an igniting unit positioned within said housing and including a casing having an open bottom portion, an absorbent pad mounted in said casing, a tube extending through said casing, a flint supported by said tube, an abrasive wheel rotatably supported by said casing and engaging said iiint, said casing further including a top wall provided with a pair of spaced apart apertures therein, said apertures being arranged in direct alignment with the periphery of the abrasive wheel, said apertures being spaced inwardly from the ends of the top wall, a wick of substantially U-shape including a pair of spaced parallel legs extending through said apertures and extending down into said casing, said wick further including an upper curved bight portion, the top of said bight portion lying in a plane which is at substantially the same level as the top of the abrasive wheel, said pad being of U-shape so as to provide spaced apart wall portions for receiving the legs of the wick therebetween when the pad is inserted through the open bottom of the casing, said pad serving to secure the legs of the wick against displacement and insuring thorough saturation of the wick with lighting Huid, a rectangular absorbent base closing the open bottom of the casing and being apertured at one end for receiving the lower end of said tube, a securing element for securing the base within said casing, the walls of said pad serving to transfer fluid to the legs of the wick, the leg of the References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 247,270 Painter Sept. 20, 1881 2,430,323 Ayotte Nov. 4, 1947 2,517,191 Flickinger et al Aug. 1, 1950 2,678,553 Bryant May 18, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 479,923 Great Britain May 9, 1936 525,598 Germany Oct. 19, 1929 710,047 Germany Sept. 2, 1941 1,038,735 France May 13, 1953 

